New Rules Target Not-for-Profit Hospitals’ Policies, Practices

Not-for-profit hospitals can no longer use aggressive measures to collect payments from certain low-income patients and must find ways to help them, according to new rules issued last month by the Department of Treasury and IRS, the New York Times reports.

Details of New Rules

The rules, published Dec. 31, 2014, in the Federal Register, clarify certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act. They apply to not-for-profit hospitals that are seeking or currently have tax-exempt status, which accounts for about 60% of U.S. hospitals, according to the Times. To qualify for tax-exempt status, not-for-profit hospitals must demonstrate that they provide "community benefits" and are operated and organized specifically for charitable purposes.